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of this valley lay blood, bones, afhes, and mangled bodies of men, even of pilgrims who had gone this way formerly: and while I was musing what should be the reason, I efpied a little before me a cave, where two giants, Pope and Pagan, dwelt in old time; by whofe power and tyranny the men, whose bones, blood, afhes, &c. lay there, were cruelly put to death. But by this place Chriftian went without much danger, whereat I fomewhat wondered: but I have learnt fince, that Pagan has been dead many a day; and, as for the other, though he be yet alive, he is, by reafon of age, and also of the many fhrewd brushes which he met with in his younger days, grown fo crazy and ftiff in his joints, that he can now do little more than fit in his cave's mouth, grinning at pilgrims as they go by, and biting his nails, because he cannot come at them.

So I faw that Chriftian went on his way; yet, at the fight of the old man who fat at the mouth of the cave, he could not tell what to think; efpecially because he fpake to him, though he could not go after him; faying, You will never mend, till more of you be burnt. But he held his peace, and set a good face on't, and fo went by, and catched no hurt. Then fang Christian,

O world of wonders! (I can fay no lefs).
That I fhould be preferv'd in that diftrefs.
That I have met with here! O bleffed be
That hand who from it hath deliver'd me!
Dangers in darknefs, devils, hell, and fin,
Did compass me, while I this vale was in :

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Yea, fnares, and pits, and traps, and nets did lie
My path about, that worthlefs, filly I,

Might have been catch'd, entangled, and caft down :
But fince I live, let JESUS wear the crown.

Now, as Chriftian went on his way, he came to a little afcent, which was caft up on purpose, that pilgrims might fee before them: therefore up there Christian went; and looking forward, faw Faithful before him on his journey. Then said Christian aloud, Ho, ho: fo ho: ftay, and I will be your companion. At that Faithful looked behind him; to whom Chriftian cried again, Stay, ftay, till I come up to you. But Faithful anfwered, No, I am upon my life, and the avenger of blood is behind me.

At this Christian was fomewhat moved, and puting forth all his ftrength, quickly got up to Faithful, and did also over-run him: fo the last was first. Then did Chriftian vain-gloriously smile, because he had gotten the start of his brother: but, not taking good heed to his feet, he suddenly stumbled and fell, and could not rife again, until Faithful came up to help him.

Then I faw in my dream, that they went very lovingly on together, and had fweet difcourfe of the things which had happened to them in their pilgrimage; and thus Chriftian began.

• Though Faithful's experience, in fome refpects, was different from Chriftian's, yet it was materially the fame; for both had experienced a fpiritual conviction of fin, and a spiritual discovery of Christ.

Chr

Chr. My honoured and well-beloved brother Faithful, I am glad that I have overtaken you; and that God has fo tempered our spirits, that we can walk as companions in this fo pleasant a path.

Faith. I had thought, dear friend, to have had your company quite from our town, but you did get the start of me: wherefore I was forced to come thus much of the way alone.

Chr. How long did you ftay in the city of De-' ftruction, before you fet out after me on your pilgrimage?

Faith. Till I could ftay no longer: there was great talk, prefently after you was gone, that our city would, in a fhort time, with fire from heaven, be burned down to the ground.

Chr. What! did your neighbours talk so?

Faith. Yes, 'twas for a while in every body's mouth.

Chr. What! and did no more of them but you come out, to escape the danger?

Faith. Though there was, as I faid, a great talk about it, yet I do not think that they did firmly believe it. For, in the heat of the discourse, I heard fome of them deridingly speak of you and of your defperate journey (for fo they called this your pilgrimage): but I did believe, and do ftill, that the end of our city will be with fire and brimftone from above and therefore I have made my escape. Chr. Did you hear no talk of neighbour Pliable?

Faith. Yes, Christian, I heard that he followed you till he came to the Slough of Defpond; where, as fome faid, he fell in: but he would not have it be known: but fure I am he was foundly bedaubed with that kind of dirt.

Chr. And what faid the neighbours to him?

Faith. He hath, fince his going back, been had greatly in derifion, and that among all forts of people; fome do mock and despise him, and scarce any will fet him to work. He is now feven times worse than if he had never gone out of the city.

Chr. But why should they be fo fet against him, fince they alfo defpife the way that he forfook?

Faith. O, they fay, hang him; he is a turn-coat: he was not true to his profeffion. I think God has ftirred up even his enemies to hiss at him, and make him a proverb, because he hath forfaken the way.

Chr. Had you no talk with him before you came out?

Faith. I met him once in the ftreets, but he leered away on the other fide, as one afhamed of what he had done: fo I fpake not to him.

Chr. Well, at my first setting out, I had hopes of that man; but now I fear he will perish in the overthrow of the city. It has happened to him according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his vomit. again; and the fow that was washed, to her wallowing in the mire.

Faith. My fears of him are the fame: but who can hinder that which will be?

Chr.

Chr. Well, neighbour Faithful, let us leave him, and talk of things which more immediately concern ourfelves. Tell me now what you have met with in the way, as you came: for I know you have met with fome things, or else it may be written for a wonder.

Faith. I escaped the Slough P which I perceived you fell into, and got up to the gate without that danger; only I met with one whose name was Wanton, who had like to have done me a mischief.

Chr. 'Twas well you efcaped her net: Jofeph was hard put to it by her; and he escaped her as you did; but it had like to have coft him his life. But what did fhe do to you?

Faith. You cannot think (but you know fomething of her) what a flattering tongue fhe had; fhe lay hard at me to turn aside with her, promifing me all manner of content.

Chr. Nay, fhe did not promise you the content of a good confcience.

Faith. You know what I mean; all carnal and fleshly content.

Chr. Thank God you have efcaped her: the abhorred of the Lord fhall fall into her ditch.

Faith. Nay, I know not whether I did wholly escape her, or no.

P By Faithful's efcaping the Slough is not meant that he had not spiritual conviction of fin; but that he did not fink in the mire as Chriftian had done.

Chr.

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